Michael Sauer Diagnosed With a Concussion

In the third period of their 4-2 loss to Toronto on Monday night, the Rangers saw two of their defensemen involved in scary incidents. In one of them, Michael Del Zotto crashed into the boards chasing a puck behind Henrik Lundqvist, but avoided serious injury and practiced yesterday. In the other, Michael Sauer was flattened by a clean Dion Phaneuf hit — one Phaneuf's father seemed to enjoy from his perch in an MSG luxury box — but the injury news for him isn't as promising. John Tortorella confirmed yesterday that Sauer suffered a concussion on the hit, though he didn't know what grade. He said that Sauer is "day-to-day." Defenseman Anton Stralman, who appeared in one game earlier this season for the Rangers, will play tonight. [The Record, NYDN]